The shape and configuration of the Angus Testy obviously needs no description. And there are plenty of people make distressed guitars out there and selling them for good money. What sets the Angus apart is that they are not buying bodies and necks from catalog houses and screwing them together. Angus does it all: Body, neck, fingerboard, frets, and nitrocellulose finish. The result is a guitar that feels and resonates as if it were carved from a solid block of wood. Because Angus has control over the total process, they sweat the details like no assembler can.
There is no finish removed from the guitar. The lacquer is checked as often happens with age, the neck is buffed to a satin smooth feel, the hardware lightly aged, and the fingerboard and frets are rounded off and finished to perfection. This Angus has a 12" fretboard radius and medium sized frets, so while the guitar may look old, the playing feel is thoroughly modern.
The Testy is outfitted with Gotoh hardware and Lollar 52 T pickups. The Lollars have a beautifully open sound, the treble is clear and smooth, and the lower output of these pickups really let you hear the wood, fretboard, and the player. The neck position especially has that round soft attack that is so hard to find in most garden variety Telecasters®, but it's all here on the Angus.
The Angus Testy is a special guitar that without the benefit of time travel, really seems to nail the classic vintage tone and vibe of early Telecasters®. It's perfect for country, blues, or roots. The lower output of the '52 Lollars means that while the Testy won't pummel a distortion pedal, you'll get to turn up your amp for a change and let it do the heavy lifting. If you've ever thought about throwing down some big bucks and taking your chances on a vintage guitar or custom shop piece, the Angus is worth serious consideration. It's a virtual way-back machine that won't set you way back.
See the YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KvA-Fo1zt0
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